A Beginner's Guide to Immortality: From Alchemy to Avatars

by Maria Birmingham, Josh Holinaty (Illustrator)

Is it possible to live forever? People have been trying to figure out a way to escape mortality since, well, forever. This book takes readers on a fast-paced tour of several wacky and wise methods humans have used to try prolonging their lives, from ancient immortality elixirs and quests for a fountain of youth to modern-day research into cryogenics and robotics.

Touching on folklore from around the world, famed literary immortals, and studies of animals that seem unaffected by aging, the book delves into topics as diverse as genetics, religious rituals surrounding the afterlife, and research into basic lifestyle choices, like eating blueberries or getting a pet, that could help you live longer. Each page is a playful mix of fascinating facts that open up cross-curricular topics in history, science, and social studies to explore.

Illustrations of historical figures, imaginary places, and scientific specimens add a touch of whimsy and bring out the beauty, sincerity, and playful side of human curiosity.

Informational text table of contents, introduction, chapters, sidebars, fact boxes, headers and labels, map, index, and sources

Genres: Nonfiction, Mythology, Middle Grade, Childrens, Alchemy

48 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2015

Reviews

[Coleblue]

i really liked how it wast all about one thing and it talked about ways to live longer and stories of people who have tried and overall i thought it was a pretty good book

[Paula]

Here's another one earmarked for a special friend - specifically, a kid who laps up the mythologies of our world. This'n casts its net wide in order to survey and sample an enormous number of stories from all over the world and all through time.

All my picks for best books to give this holiday are at http://www.unadulterated.us/pink-me/2...

[Alyisha]

Mildly obsessed with this book now. The illustrations are hilarious (see: "class photo" of Dracula, Peter Pan, an Amazon Warrior, a Tolkien-inspired elf, etc. with a sign that reads "Class of Forever"). The text has a hip, young, witty tone -- and every tidbit of information is so, so interesting! This covers immortality from every angle: science, religion, mythology, geography, literature, pop culture, etc. I couldn't help but read passages aloud to my co-librarians (on a very slow Saturday afternoon). I borrowed this from another library but am definitely going to see about adding it to my home library's collection. Perfect for older elementary kids, middle-schoolers, early high-schoolers (and 30-year-old nerds like me).

[Mariah]

Even if a nonfiction book is amusing with great design and illustrations, just a couple inaccuracies can ruin it. Near the end of the book the author refers to Aboriginal people as North Americans. She also claims flossing can add six years to someone’s life. She does include a bibliography on her verso page, but I keep wondering where she got some info and once I find a couple errors, everything is suspect.

[Elisabeth]

An enjoyable introduction to the pursuits of immortality, with mentions of legends and stories as well as technological advances toward living longer. The art was super cute and added to the content.

[Sophie Carbone]

Very fun and wonderfully illustrated micro history!

[Helena]

really fun, accessible book about my favorite topic: never dying!

[Lynn Davidson]

This is such an interesting and well put together book for young readers (and up), with fun illustrations suited to young readers. The author did a lot of research to cover this topic on many points, starting thousands of years ago to the 2000s and looking forward. The search for immortality continues.
Contents:
Introduction;
Chapter 1: Find and elixer or other magical substance;
Chapter 2: Meet an immortal;
Chapter 3: Visit a magical place;
Chapter 4: Hang in there;
Chapter 5: Look to the future;
Conclusion;
Index.

[Ashley]

Immortality and the pursuit of it is a complex topic that not many authors have bridged for a juvenile audience. However, this title with its formatting, bubbles, and asides is appealing to the eye while offering a unique take on information. Some they may have already heard - Dracula for example - but also deeper scientific principles such as the FoxO gene. All in all I'd hand this to most any reader.

[Heather]

This book made me think about a lot of things regarding long life and immortality that I had never even heard of. I love the pictures, and my young daughter was interested in it as well. While it is no by no means an in-depth study of each of the elements regarding immortality, it is a great primer and has piqued my interest about genetics, and healthy living, and technology that we might use to have longer lives.

[goodbyewaffles]

Interesting! I wish there'd been a little more to it, I guess, but it's got a lot of information organized well.

[Laela]

A quick read with some interesting stuff. I never really connected with material. The layout of the book is super cute.

[Deborah]

Easy, short non-fiction glance at the human search for immortality through alchemy, in mythology, history, and the technologies of the present and future.